From now until the end of the 2017-2018 NFL Regular Season, every week will boast important matchups. 2017 NFL Week 9 is no different. Atlanta versus Carolina is one gigantic battle. Both teams are a game behind the New Orleans Saints in the NFC South.
Other important games are: Denver at Philadelphia, Washington at Seattle, Kansas City at Dallas, and Detroit at Green Bay. Denver must find a way to stop the bleeding. Washington needs a win. Dallas must beat one of the best teams in the AFC while Detroit and Green Bay aren’t out of it in the NFC North.
2017 NFL Week 9 Preview
Buffalo Bills -3.5 at New York Jets +3.5
The Jets are an okay football team. They’re not a good football team. They’re just an okay team. Once again, the Jets blew a second half lead. This time, the Jets blew the second half lead to the Atlanta Falcons, last season’s NFC participant in Super Bowl 51.
I don’t believe Buffalo allows the Jets to blow a lead on Sunday. The Bills have scored 30 points or more in 2 straight. They could make it 3 straight. Buffalo is a legitimate contender to New England’s NFC East dominance.
Pick: Bills -3.5
Indianapolis Colts +13 at Houston Texans -13
The Indianapolis Colts head to Houston as a close to -14 dog. That’s insane, isn’t it? 14 points, which is what I believe the spread ends up, sounds ridiculous. In this case, it’s not.
Houston’s defense isn’t stellar this season. It’s good. It’s not great. But, Indianapolis is missing that one key player, like Seattle QB Russell Wilson, that’s going to help the Colts keep up on the scoreboard. Houston QB DeShaun Watson is a natural. He could end up throwing for 3 TDs in this while the Texans rush for over 170 yards.
The Colts have no shot. I’m willing to lay the points. I believe so much in the Texans covering the spread on Sunday, that I’m making Houston -13 one of my best picks.
Best Pick: Texans -13
Cincinnati Bengals +5.5 at Jacksonville Jaguars -5.5
The line opened Jacksonville -3. Already it’s climbed to Jacksonville -5.5. Anybody that’s bet on the Jags understands why. Cincinnati’s offensive line is one of the worst in the NFL. The Bengals allowed the Colts to sack Andy Dalton 3 times in NFL Week 8.
The Jaguars have already sacked opposing quarterbacks 33 times. The team with the next closest number of sacks are the Carolina Panthers with 27. I think the Jaguars blow out Cincinnati on Nov. 5.
Best Pick: Jaguars -5.5
Tampa Bay Buccaneers +7 at New Orleans Saints -7
I’m not sure what’s going on with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. No, seriously. It pains me to write that because I thought this was the season Tampa put it together on both the offense and defense. First, the defense is terrible. It ranks 29th in the NFL. Opponents average 386.4 yards per game versus Tampa Bay. Second, Tampa QB Jameis Winston is playing like he’s a rookie. Winston’s thrown 10 TD passes to 6 interceptions. He’s only completing 61.8% of his passes. His QB rating is 88.3.
New Orleans should put a beating on the Buccaneers in this game.
Best Pick: Saints -7
L.A. Rams -3.5 at New York Giants +3.5
I’m a Rams’ fan. I’ve been a fan of L.A. ever since they signed Sean McVay to be their coach. I love the guy. But, I don’t believe this game sets up well for the Rams. LAR is young on both sides of the football. The Giants enter this game off a bye. NYG is 5-1-1 against the spread in their last 7 games off an ATS loss. The G-Men are also 5 and 0 ATS in their last 5 home games versus a team with a winning road record. I like the Giants to beat the Rams straight up. It means I’m taking the points.
Pick: Giants +3.5
Atlanta Falcons +2.5 at Carolina Panthers -2.5
Sure, Atlanta scored 25 points against the Jets’ defense in Week 8. I’m not ready to say the Falcons’ offense is back. The Jets’ D allows an average of 128.2 rushing yards per game. The Jets also allow over 23 points per. Carolina’s defense allows an average of 102 rushing yards, and 21 points per.
That’s not the reason to love Carolina ATS in this one. The reason to love Carolina against the spread is because Atlanta is 1 and 4 against the spread in the last 5 meetings in Carolina. The home team is 7 and 2 ATS in the last 9 meetings between these 2. That’s another reason to love the Panthers.
Best Pick: Panthers -2.5
Denver Broncos +7.5 at Philadelphia Eagles -7.5
The Philadelphia Eagles are the best team in the NFL right now. But after a quick scan of the teams that Philly has beaten this season, it’s suddenly occurred to me that the Eagles might be somewhat of a paper tiger. I mean, beating Washington twice, Arizona, San Francisco, and the New York Giants doesn’t do much for me. Beating Carolina 28 to 23 is legit. Panthers’ QB Cam Newton threw 3 picks in that one, though.
The Broncos have a great shot of ending Philadelphia’s 6-game winning streak. The Broncos’ defense is good enough to confuse QB Carson Wentz. Philly has been beating bad teams. I like the Broncos.
Pick: Denver +7.5
Baltimore Ravens Off at Tennessee Titans Off
I’m betting this blind. It’s a saying that we use often in horse racing to mean that we’re not even looking at a racing form. I don’t have to know if Tennessee QB Marcus Mariota and TE Delanie Walker play. I don’t believe Baltimore can win 2 games in a row. What leads me to believe that? A powerful trend. The Ravens are 1 and 4 ATS in their last 5 games after winning the game before by at least 14 points. Baltimore is also 3 and 8 ATS in their last 11 road games. Finally, Baltimore is 2 and 5 ATS in the last 7 meetings between these 2.
Whether Mariota plays or not, I’m on Tennessee.
Pick: Titans ATS
Arizona Cardinals -2.5 at San Francisco 49’ers +2.5
NFL handicappers have so little faith in the San Francisco 49’ers that 65% are willing to lay the points even though the Cards will be without QB Carson Palmer. That’s crazy to me. The 49’ers just traded for New England backup Jimmy Garoppolo. I think Garoppolo starts this Sunday. He’s a huge, magnificent, upgrade from C.J. Beathard and Brian Hoyer.
SF wins their first game of the season by beating Arizona by 6 to 7 points is what I predict.
Pick: 49’ers +2.5
Washington Redskins +7 at Seattle Seahawks -7
Seattle should have no trouble pounding a Washington squad whose defense doesn’t know how play with pace. Seattle QB Russell Wilson is my NFL MVP at the midpoint of the season. I think Seattle scores close to 40 points while Washington could have trouble getting more than 20.
Pick: Seahawks -7
Kansas City Chiefs +1 at Dallas Cowboys -1
Dallas’ defense has gotten to battle Washington and San Francisco in the Cowboys’ last couple of games. It’s hard to see Dallas’ offense keeping pace with the Kansas City Chiefs, who can score plenty of different ways. The Chiefs’ defense can give up yards and points. It usually doesn’t matter because no defense can stop KC’s offense.
One thing to keep in mind is that Dallas is 1 and 6 ATS in their last 7 games in NFL Week 9. The Boys are also 0 and 5 ATS in their last 5 home games versus a team with a winning road record. KC’s a best pick.
Best Pick: Chiefs +1
Oakland Raiders -3 at Miami Dolphins +3
I really don’t understand this betting line. Sure, the Raiders beat the Kansas City Chiefs. That was a rivalry game. And, yes, the Miami Dolphins lost 0 to 40 to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 8. That was a road game for Miami.
Whenever I see 78% of NFL handicappers back one team ATS, I almost always go the other way. 78% like the Raiders. I think Miami wins this one on the money line.
Pick: Dolphins +3
Detroit Lions -2.5 at Green Bay Packers +2.5
Green Bay battles the Lions off their bye. That should have helped starting QB Brett Hundley become more comfortable in the offense. Hundley could have success versus a Detroit Lions’ defense that yields 254.6 passing yards per game. It’s always tough to beat the Packers at Lambeau. If Hundley just plays slightly better than he did versus the Saints in Week 7, Green Bay should win this one the money line.
Pick: Packers +2.5